Filming in Tampere

The Tampere region is one of Finland’s fastest-growing centres. The city itself has a population of more than 220,000, with about half a million in the greater Tampere region as a whole. Tampere is easy to reach. From Tampere-Pirkkala airport one can reach the center of Tampere by 30 minutes. The distance between Helsinki and Tampere is approximately two hours by car.

Today Tampere can be described as a centre of leading-edge technology and creative industry. Tampere offers the best platform to create high-class entertainment and drama. The media hub Mediapolis with leading production services, facilities and two media schools with young rising talents. Tampere has strong professionalism in post production and special effects, editing and sound design, motion capture and 3D compositing as well as virtual and augmented reality.

Tampere offers adaptive filming locations all year around. From nature to urban, from cold to hot and from past to present. The city is located amid beautiful scenery between two lakes, Lake Näsijärvi and Lake Pyhäjärvi. The Tammerkoski rapids and red brick industrial heritage are one of Finland’s beloved and most distinctive landscapes. We are at your service!

“Tampere has a long and prestigious tradition as a location for drama and comedy productions. As a director myself, I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy the enthusiastic and friendly work atmosphere in Tampere. Filming locations are one of its many strengths, offering a great selection of narrative opportunities within a short distance.”
-Lauri Nurkse, director

Film Tampere Production Guide

Guidelines

What to consider when you are coming to Tampere with your production.

The Tampere Event Planning Guide is a comprehensive site for arranging events in Tampere.

If this is your first time filming in Finland, Filming in Finland -website (<linkki tekstiin) is a good place to start.https://filminginfinland.fi/

We’ve put together a few useful guidelines and links, especially for TV and movie production, to get you started.

LICENCES AND PERMITS

As the organiser, you are responsible for all the permits. That includes making sure that all permits held by sub-contractors and vendors, are adequate and up to date. Organising an event without the relevant permits is not allowed, and the authorities can discontinue any unauthorised events.

Some of the licences and permits of Finnish authorities are not available in English. If that is the case, you can contact the relevant authority. In many cases, you can give them the relevant information via email or in person. The permits needed depend on the event in question; but at least a permission to use the location and a notice of public event to the police are mandatory for almost all events.

FILMING PERMIT

If films or television programmes are shot in the city, the police and rescue services must be informed of the location to allow them to prepare for possible emergencies. If the crew has to position their equipment or cables in the street, the City of Tampere Planning Services department must be informed. For a longer project, it may be necessary to apply for a street use permit.

INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING THE EVENT

In addition to applying for permits and licences, the event organiser must inform and notify various parties about the event.

Tieliikennekeskus (the centre for road traffic) monitors traffic on the approach roads to Tampere and on major streets in the city. We recommend informing the centre of any major events or events that affect traffic.

Inform Tampere Regional Transport of the event to allow them to anticipate any changes in traffic, need for buses or alternative bus routes.

It may be necessary to park vehicles at or near the venue when building and dismantling the event structures. To avoid parking tickets, inform City of Tampere Parking Control about your event. Remember to check the possibility of parking at or near the venue with the lessor, and apply for any parking permits that may be needed.

Inform the people living in nearby buildings of any events that may cause noise or affect their walking or driving routes.

If films or television programmes are shot in the city, the police and rescue services must be informed of the location to allow them to prepare for possible emergencies. If the crew has to position their equipment or cables in the street, the City of Tampere Planning Services department must be informed. For a longer project, it may be necessary to apply for a street use permit.

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC EVENT

The organiser must notify the police of a public event.The instructions for submitting the notice usually state the notice period of five days stipulated in the Assembly Act; however, this is too short notice, particularly in the summer. We recommend submitting the notice as early as possible. A notification is not required in the case of small public events. Examples of such events include regular film, theatre and opera performances or concerts either indoors or outdoors that do not require security stewards to be hired.

LAND USE AND STREET USE PERMIT

Organising an event in a marketplace or in a public park owned by the City of Tampere is subject to a fee and always requires a land use permit from the land owner. Submit your application for a permit to the City of Tampere Facility Property Management department. Major events require specific negotiations with the land owner. For street use permits, please contact the City of Tampere Planning Services department

If it is necessary to close a street, parking area or another public area partly or completely so that it requires temporary traffic arrangements, the event organiser must apply for a street use permit. Street use permits are granted by the City of Tampere’s Planning Services department. Remember to apply for a street use permit at least 14 to 21 days before closing a street.

SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PLAN

A safety plan must be delivered to the police along with the notice of a public event. Generally it is also either mandatory or recommended to submit an emergency plan to the rescue services. The plans can also be combined as long as the plan addresses all the items required by both authorities.